You don’t have to go far for hiking
Fall hiking in the Ouachita National Forest in southeast Oklahoma is a well-loved tradition for Norman residents Dana and Greg Rex and their five children.
“The scenic drive is beautiful, and the mountains make you seriously question if you are still in Oklahoma,” Dana Rex said.
Newcomers might make the assumption that Oklahoma’s landscape is dry, flat and uninteresting. But Oklahoma natives and seasoned transplants know it offers diverse terrain, from open prairies to wooded pines, with hiking trails for experts and beginners.
Dana Rex and her family have lived in Oklahoma 16 years and have grown to love the state’s many hiking trails. And they are not alone.
Exploring the outdoors for recreation has grown in popularity. “The amount of recent books and films has helped in getting folks thinking about a new adventure,” said Tom Adams, general manager of Backwoods outdoor recreation store in Oklahoma City.
Books and movies such as “Wild,” “A Walk in the Woods” and “The Way” inspire people to get out- side, he said.
Adams said they have noticed more women taking the opportunity to get outside, especially the 20-30 and 50-60 age groups.
“What we see most are the opportunities that are very close to home that have new hikers interested,” Adams said.
Martin Nature Park, Arcadia Lake trails and Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge are among those venues. “These areas are close ... some are paved, wellmarked and some lighted,” Adams said.
Like-minded people are connecting on social media. The outdoors and adventure community on Meetup, a social media platform designed to connect people who have similar interests, is one of the largest communities.
Karen Weehunt is organizer of the Norman/OKC Hiking and Outdoor Fun Meetup group, which welcomes all age ranges and skill levels. “We have hikers anywhere from people bringing their kids to a man in his 70s who is retired that go on our hikes,” Weehunt said.
“Our first hike was in 2014, and my thought was that I’d be happy if we get 10 to 12 people to join the Meetup group and three to four to actually go on a hike,” Weehunt said.
To her surprise, about 25 people showed up at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.
In the three years since she organized the group, more than 1,000 people have joined and the group has hiked all over Oklahoma, the most popular area being the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. “It’s only a little over an hour drive from Norman, but it’s totally different there from anywhere else in Oklahoma,” Weehunt said. “They have great trails; it’s really pretty. There’s lots of wildlife, and it’s fairly close by.”
What you should know
Andrew Potter, a state park ranger, offers advice for creating a successful hike.
“The best advice I can give to a novice, or any hiker, is to prepare,” Potter said. “Most of the issues I run into with hikers on the job comes down to being unprepared or uneducated on the trails.”
Hikers should invest in a day pack, hydration sources, footwear, a longlasting light and a decent recreational grade GPS.
“As a first responder, I cannot stress enough the ability to know where you are when out hiking,” Potter said.
Using a GPS to mark your car, campsite or trailhead allows you to retrace your steps if you get injured, lost or bite off more than you can chew.
Potter recommends starting off easy.
“Go hike for a couple of hours, then a morning, an all day, and so on. You will find the best way to pace yourself and ration out supplies as you go.”
And perhaps most important of all, Potter said, is to enjoy yourself.
“Find what you like most about being out on the trails and seek to grow ... whether that’s new sights to see, new times to beat or bonding with friends. Hiking can offer satisfaction in innumerable ways.”
To learn more about hiking trails in Oklahoma, go to www.travelok.com/ Hiking.